Rubber shoe



June 30, 1942. I J. E. And 2,287,877

' RUBBER SHOE I Filed Aug. 2,1946

v Ifivefifor v Jain-5.15 02?! '6" 5%? (9% dtforneg Patented June 3%, 1942 RUBBER SHOE.

John E. Hard, Cranston, R. 1., assignor to Goodyear Footwear Corporation, Providence, R. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,491

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in rubber shoes. It is especially directed to rubber footwear which has a quarter with a facing member having flaps adapted to abut one another along a front seam and having a foldable web behind, with means for fastening the fiaps together in abutting relation at the seam. The particular improvement resides in the provision of a drain opening at the bottom of the seam.

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings but these are to be merely illustrative for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claim whatever features of paten'table novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe employing a zipper fastener and embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the shoe;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views taken as on lines 44, 55 and 6-3 respectively of Figure 2; and

Figure '7 is a front elevation of a shoe having buckle fasteners thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the shoes disclosed have the customary construction except for the improvement I have made. In a shoe of the water-tight type shown, the quarter II] has a frontal opening around the side and bottom edges of which is secured a facing member II which has a front seam l2 between flaps l4 and I6 of the facing member. These flaps are fastened together when the shoe is in use by either a zipper fastener l8 or buckle fasteners which are undone when putting the shoe on or taking it off. To render the shoe water-tight there is provided a web 22 which is secured to the front side of the quarter along the side and bottom edges of the aforesaid frontal opening. The web is foldable so as to be extended when the seam I2 is opened but, when the shoe is on,

the pocket is folded as seen most clearly in Figure 4. Heretofore the web and quarter with integral flaps have been completely attached together below the seam 12. At this point, where the quarter and web all come together there has heretofore existed an undesirable cavity or receptacle in which sand, mud and other foreign material have lodged. In time this collection would not infrequently result in a permanent bulge in the shoe likely to cause considerable discomfort to the wearer. Moreover the collected material imposes an unintended strain on the shoe parts, weakens the structure and in time causes the shoe to leak.

My improvement consists in providing a drain opening 24 in the facing member ll at the bottom of the seam l2 just Where the quarter, web and facing member have been tightly joined together. Any dirty water or other matter entering the space 26 between the web 22 and the fastened-together flaps will find its way to the drain opening 24 and be discharged. Thus all collection of moisture, sand, dirt, and what not at the bottom juncture of the quarter, web and facing member is entirely avoided.

I claim:

A water-tight rubber shoe comprising a quarter having a vertically extending opening in its front; a foldable web closing said opening and having portions secured to the front of said quarter along the bottom and side edges of said opening; a facing member secured to the front of said quarter along the said bottom and side edges of said opening and beyond the edges of the said web portion and having flaps extending toward one another and adapted to abut along a frontal seam; fastening means attached to said flaps for holding them in abutting relation along said seam; and a drain opening in said facing member below said seam and flaps just above the bottom juncture of the quarter, web and facing member to provide a drain outlet from the space between said flaps and web.

JOHN E. HARD. 

